Smith praises team effort

South Africa skipper cannot fault his troops after Headingley win

Last updated: 22nd July 2008

Graeme Smith South Africa v England 2nd Test Jul 08

Smith: satisfied after comprehensive win

A lot of our guys stepped up when they needed to and that was great to see.

Graeme Smith
Quotes of the week

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Graeme Smith was delighted with all aspects of South Africa's 10-wicket victory in the second Test against England at Headingley.

The Proteas totally outplayed their hosts to move 1-0 up in the four-match series.

Captain Smith won the toss and opted to insert England for the second time in a row, although this time with a rather better outcome than in the drawn first Test at Lord's, when the hosts piled up 593-8 declared.

Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn each claimed four wickets as England were skittled for 203 and the tourists replied with 522 to claim a first-innings lead of 319.

And that was turned into a 10-wicket success with a day to spare, Smith and opening partner Neil McKenzie making light work of a target of just nine.

"We bowled nicely to restrict England and I think the batting performance after that was a credit to the guys," Smith told Sky Sports.

"It was fantastic to be 319 ahead and I think the guys today bowled really well.

"I think it was a good exciting Test match but I think the key moments we played a lot better.

Stepped up

"A lot of our guys stepped up when they needed to and that was great to see."

The outstanding individual performances came from first-innings centurions Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers, and fast bowling duo Morkel and Steyn, who each finished with seven wickets in the match.

It was Prince who earned man-of-the-match honours after following up his century in the first-Test draw at Lord's last week with 149.

"I am striking it quite nicely at the moment," noted the left-hander, who is Smith's vice-captain.

"A hundred at Lord's and a hundred here, and building up to the Test series was batting nicely too.

"I would say at the moment I am batting as well as ever."